Poll: Who loves the bagpipes?, who hates them?

[shooter364]

I'm curious... amongst you lot, who loves and who hates the bagpipes?

 

[Janice]

Hi Bill

I have voted for "Love the Bagpipes!" as I do like hearing them played.

I went to Scotland for the first time last August, and was fortunate enough to be in Glasgow for the Annual World BagPipe Contest. It was fantastic, and the bands were just amazing. We have some great video footage of some American and Canadian bands (that eventually won) and they were awesome!

 

[squitty]

Hi Bill

I voted for love them too

When I was younger I was took to see the Edinburgh Tattoo held in Edinburgh Castle, Scotland. It was fantastic to say the least.. They have a lone piper who plays in the Castle and it is very moving (well for me anyway). Ever since then I love to hear the bagpipes being played anywhere.

 

[Scotfan]

Well I really like to hear the pipes but we were at a wedding in London a few years ago when a friend of the bride and groom insisted on playing in the room where the reception was being held. It was awful, had he never been told not to play inside!

Incidentally the big posters of a little boy playing the pipes that was used in NY for Scots week (or whatever it was) was taken near here and the boy lives in the next town, small world.

 

[SpottyDog]

A big thumbs up here, Bill.

Give me a marchin pipe band anytime.
Takes me back to me youth when the highlight of Durham Big Meetin ( an annual gathering of Miners with each colliery banner was escorted into town behind it's town band) was the visit of the Scottish Collieries who had pipe bands rather than brass.

I loved Off Kilter for obvious reasons.

Even pipes played badly can bring tears to me eyes - but maybe that's for another reason!

 

[udnylad]

Well I think they are brill, but I am biased being a Scot. You just can't beat a pipe band at full tilt to get your foot tapping

 

[Tartan Tigger]

Another biased Scot here. I LOVE the bagpipes I could listen to them for hours, always feel patriotic when I here them

 

[Fiona R from UK]

I love them with two provisos:

a) played well!!
b) outdoors!!

I love the single piper, always reminds me of the one at Glencoe (where I spent a lot of my student days in the hills!!) They should be heard drifting through the Highlands!

I was totally knocked out by Off Kilter too, absolutely brilliant and never heard anything like that before!!

 

[Hamther]

Yes, as most have pointed out - played well they are worth listening to but played badly and they are like nails down a blackboard.

In Edinburgh, there is a big shopping street which is a tourist draw as it faces the Castle. Hence a lot of (ahem) pipe enthusiasts go there to do a bit of busking with their kilts on hoping the tourists won't realise just how badly they play.

To realise how lovely and haunting the pipes can sound is to hear a lament played by a piper with years of skill (come to Edinburgh during the Festival in August to hear some great piping).

Of course, I too am completely biased being a Scot and having a dad who was a piper!!




Jackie

 

[Madjock]

Another biased Scot here who loves the pipes! Even though from Glasgow I have to say that hearing the pipes played at Edinburgh Castle is definitely not to be missed.

Annmarie

 

[Lobey]

...and yet another biased jock who loves the pipes. Biggest disappointment of last trip to WDW was that I managed to miss Off Kilter even though I was at Epcot on three different occasions. Hopefully I'll get to hear them the next time (assuming I get back to WDW before Off Kilter get canned in a round of cost-saving cuts )

 

[shooter364]

I am glad to see that most of you enjoy the sound of the pipes. I happen to love the pipes myself, which brings me to this: If you enjoy the music of Off-Kilter, you should give a listen to a group that is based out of Jacksonville, called Seven Nations.

The group is made up of 3 yanks and two Canucks, and believe me when I tell you, these guys rock!

Give them a try, or give them a listen at their website: http://www.sevennations.com

Bill

 

[SpottyDog]

That's great, Bill. Thanks.

Will add them to me MP3 files later.

Bet they were good supportin Jethro Tull- did you seee them?

 

[ThumperThistle]

I love listening to Bagpipes too. At least all us biased Scots are honest.

 

[shooter364]

Spotty,

I saw them for the first time at the Richmond (virginia) Scottish games... they were greqt. I have 4 of their cd's and saw them here in the DC area this past december... they were great.!

 

[profdsny]

The key, no pun intended, is being played well. I was lucky to see the Scots Guard band here in Chicago about 15 years ago. They marched in formation into the ball room at one of the grand hotels on North Michigan ave. I can still picture, and hear, them in my mind. It was a vip event that I was able to attend with a date. The down side to it was that they served haggis.
Actually, I also like the Irish bagpipes as well, but a much different instrument.

 

[Rick Walmsley]

Many many many years ago when I was at school in Scotland I learned to play the bagpipes!!!

I suspect that I was never too melodious on them!

If I tried them again now I suspect I would be shot

I still love their music when played well though

Rick

 

[Hamther]

Prof - like the pipes you can get good haggis and bad haggis. Good and it's deliciously spicy and full of flavour. Bad and it's like chewing a lump of tar!

McSweens of Edinburgh is the renowned butcher for Haggis and they ship!!

http://www.macsween.co.uk/homepage.htm


Yum!!